Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Intersil 6100 uP
241 views
Skip to first unread message
Brian Reay
Jul 23, 2018, 7:16:49 AM7/23/18
to
In the mid/late 70s, when I was at Uni, I had a vacation job and worked
on a project involving the 6100 uP.
Initially, I was let loose on a simple singe board dev system (if you
can call it that), a simple keyboard, 7 segment display etc, as was
common at the time.
Eventually, I was trusted to use a 'real computer' - laughable by
today's standards but ..... . It was a typical (at the time) 'Pizza Box'
6100 based unit, I'm pretty sure it had toggle switches for data and
address set up etc but I used other machines around then and it was 40
years ago, the usual LEDs etc. I/O was teletype etc.- no CRT etc. I'm
sure at the time, Intersil were the only make of the 6100 and probably
made the Pizza Box.
Purely for old times sake, I'd like to try and acquire one- if the price
is right.
Does anyone know the beast, please?
on a project involving the 6100 uP.
Initially, I was let loose on a simple singe board dev system (if you
can call it that), a simple keyboard, 7 segment display etc, as was
common at the time.
Eventually, I was trusted to use a 'real computer' - laughable by
today's standards but ..... . It was a typical (at the time) 'Pizza Box'
6100 based unit, I'm pretty sure it had toggle switches for data and
address set up etc but I used other machines around then and it was 40
years ago, the usual LEDs etc. I/O was teletype etc.- no CRT etc. I'm
sure at the time, Intersil were the only make of the 6100 and probably
made the Pizza Box.
Purely for old times sake, I'd like to try and acquire one- if the price
is right.
Does anyone know the beast, please?
Bob Eager
Jul 23, 2018, 8:04:59 AM7/23/18
to
Harris. The 6120, in fact, which was slightly enhanced.
You may know that the instruction set was that of the Digital Equipment
Corp. PDP-8; a nice little, very successful minicomputer first announced
on 28th May 1965. That used discrete logic, then later SSI TTL logic.
They ended up with the 6100/6120.
I have built two kits using the 6120, but I obtained the actual CPU chips
as part of the kits, from someone who had acquired a limited supply. The
kits are no longer available.
Here are both versions:
http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
The panel is a near replica on an early model of the PDP-8.
You can't get the chip, but there is a PDP-8 simulator available for most
platforms, which simulates the entire instruction set. Even better, there
is a kit available (the PiDP-8) which is a scale model (physically) of a
later version of the PDP-8. I have the kit, but no tuit yet!
http://obsolescence.wixsite.com/obsolescence/pidp-8
Lots of software and resources available for the 6100/6120/PDP-8.
There is also a PiDP-11...I have that too.
The PDP-8 architecture is very simple. 12 bit word, with a 3 bit opcode
field (i.e. 8 instructions!). TAD (add), DCA (store and clear
accumulator), AND, JMP, JMS (subroutine call), ISZ (increment and skip if
zero). Then an I/O group (IOT) and the operate group (instructions not
needing an address).
The other 9 bits were a 7 bit address, a bit for indirection, and a bit
setting the address 'page' (128 word block), either the current one of
the zeroth one (rather like the 6502 years later).
The operate group used the address bits to specify microcoded actions.
Many resources, but here's an example.
http://homepage.divms.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/man/index.html
--
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org
Brian Reay
Jul 23, 2018, 9:52:55 AM7/23/18
to
On 23/07/18 13:04, Bob Eager wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:16:48 +0100, Brian Reay wrote:
>
>> In the mid/late 70s, when I was at Uni, I had a vacation job and worked
>> on a project involving the 6100 uP.
>>
>> Initially, I was let loose on a simple singe board dev system (if you
>> can call it that), a simple keyboard, 7 segment display etc, as was
>> common at the time.
>>
>> Eventually, I was trusted to use a 'real computer' - laughable by
>> today's standards but ..... . It was a typical (at the time) 'Pizza Box'
>> 6100 based unit, I'm pretty sure it had toggle switches for data and
>> address set up etc but I used other machines around then and it was 40
>> years ago, the usual LEDs etc. I/O was teletype etc.- no CRT etc. I'm
>> sure at the time, Intersil were the only make of the 6100 and probably
>> made the Pizza Box.
>>
>> Purely for old times sake, I'd like to try and acquire one- if the price
>> is right.
>>
>> Does anyone know the beast, please?
>
> Yes, I do. Or, rather I have two of the 'second source' version, from
> Harris. The 6120, in fact, which was slightly enhanced.
>
Interesting, I thought Harris bought out Intersil but perhaps not.
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:16:48 +0100, Brian Reay wrote:
>
>> In the mid/late 70s, when I was at Uni, I had a vacation job and worked
>> on a project involving the 6100 uP.
>>
>> Initially, I was let loose on a simple singe board dev system (if you
>> can call it that), a simple keyboard, 7 segment display etc, as was
>> common at the time.
>>
>> Eventually, I was trusted to use a 'real computer' - laughable by
>> today's standards but ..... . It was a typical (at the time) 'Pizza Box'
>> 6100 based unit, I'm pretty sure it had toggle switches for data and
>> address set up etc but I used other machines around then and it was 40
>> years ago, the usual LEDs etc. I/O was teletype etc.- no CRT etc. I'm
>> sure at the time, Intersil were the only make of the 6100 and probably
>> made the Pizza Box.
>>
>> Purely for old times sake, I'd like to try and acquire one- if the price
>> is right.
>>
>> Does anyone know the beast, please?
>
> Yes, I do. Or, rather I have two of the 'second source' version, from
> Harris. The 6120, in fact, which was slightly enhanced.
>
> You may know that the instruction set was that of the Digital Equipment
> Corp. PDP-8; a nice little, very successful minicomputer first announced
> on 28th May 1965. That used discrete logic, then later SSI TTL logic.
> They ended up with the 6100/6120.
>
> I have built two kits using the 6120, but I obtained the actual CPU chips
> as part of the kits, from someone who had acquired a limited supply. The
> kits are no longer available.
>
> Here are both versions:
>
> http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
>
> The panel is a near replica on an early model of the PDP-8.
>
> You can't get the chip, but there is a PDP-8 simulator available for most
> platforms, which simulates the entire instruction set. Even better, there
> is a kit available (the PiDP-8) which is a scale model (physically) of a
> later version of the PDP-8. I have the kit, but no tuit yet!
>
> http://obsolescence.wixsite.com/obsolescence/pidp-8
>
> Lots of software and resources available for the 6100/6120/PDP-8.
>
> There is also a PiDP-11...I have that too.
>
> The PDP-8 architecture is very simple. 12 bit word, with a 3 bit opcode
> field (i.e. 8 instructions!). TAD (add), DCA (store and clear
> accumulator), AND, JMP, JMS (subroutine call), ISZ (increment and skip if
> zero). Then an I/O group (IOT) and the operate group (instructions not
> needing an address).
>
> The other 9 bits were a 7 bit address, a bit for indirection, and a bit
> setting the address 'page' (128 word block), either the current one of
> the zeroth one (rather like the 6502 years later).
>
> The operate group used the address bits to specify microcoded actions.
>
> Many resources, but here's an example.
>
> http://homepage.divms.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/man/index.html
>
Thank you, I will have a look.
> I have built two kits using the 6120, but I obtained the actual CPU chips
> as part of the kits, from someone who had acquired a limited supply. The
> kits are no longer available.
>
> Here are both versions:
>
> http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
>
> The panel is a near replica on an early model of the PDP-8.
>
> You can't get the chip, but there is a PDP-8 simulator available for most
> platforms, which simulates the entire instruction set. Even better, there
> is a kit available (the PiDP-8) which is a scale model (physically) of a
> later version of the PDP-8. I have the kit, but no tuit yet!
>
> http://obsolescence.wixsite.com/obsolescence/pidp-8
>
> Lots of software and resources available for the 6100/6120/PDP-8.
>
> There is also a PiDP-11...I have that too.
>
> The PDP-8 architecture is very simple. 12 bit word, with a 3 bit opcode
> field (i.e. 8 instructions!). TAD (add), DCA (store and clear
> accumulator), AND, JMP, JMS (subroutine call), ISZ (increment and skip if
> zero). Then an I/O group (IOT) and the operate group (instructions not
> needing an address).
>
> The other 9 bits were a 7 bit address, a bit for indirection, and a bit
> setting the address 'page' (128 word block), either the current one of
> the zeroth one (rather like the 6502 years later).
>
> The operate group used the address bits to specify microcoded actions.
>
> Many resources, but here's an example.
>
> http://homepage.divms.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/man/index.html
>
Michael Black
Jul 23, 2018, 11:42:43 AM7/23/18
to
the code, but of course missed out on the front panel and probably some
other missing bits.
Someone I knew got a contract to computerize a local vinyl record press,
and I'm not sure how that started, but he had someone in who was very
familiar with the PDP-8, though of course the Intersil 6100 had the
secondary advantage of being CMOS, low current. So they made a board,
worked the software, with a probably expensive terminal that fitted into a
calculator case, I can't remember any details beyond that. So they got it
going, tested it at the plant, and then produced a bunch. This was 1980,
little did they know the future was in CDs.
I don't recall a development board or system made by Intersil. I do
vaguely recall there was a commerical computer that used the 6100, but
details escape me. This wasn't a big company, so not a familiar name. I
think there was an article in Kilobaud about it, but maybe it was Byte.
Michael
David Jones
Jul 23, 2018, 12:30:40 PM7/23/18
to
Check this out. It's a new implementation of the a single board computer based on the 6120.
David
https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-edition:start
David
https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-edition:start
Scott Lurndal
Jul 23, 2018, 12:56:08 PM7/23/18
to
Michael Black <mbl...@pubnix.net> writes:
>On Mon, 23 Jul 2018, Brian Reay wrote:
>
>> In the mid/late 70s, when I was at Uni, I had a vacation job and worked on a
>> project involving the 6100 uP.
>>
>> Initially, I was let loose on a simple singe board dev system (if you can
>> call it that), a simple keyboard, 7 segment display etc, as was common at the
>> time.
>>
>> Eventually, I was trusted to use a 'real computer' - laughable by today's
>> standards but ..... . It was a typical (at the time) 'Pizza Box' 6100 based
>> unit, I'm pretty sure it had toggle switches for data and address set up etc
>> but I used other machines around then and it was 40 years ago, the usual LEDs
>> etc. I/O was teletype etc.- no CRT etc. I'm sure at the time, Intersil were
>> the only make of the 6100 and probably made the Pizza Box.
>>
>> Purely for old times sake, I'd like to try and acquire one- if the price is
>> right.
>>
>> Does anyone know the beast, please?
>>
>
>The 6100's big fame was that it was an IC version of the PDP-8. It rand
pun intended?
>On Mon, 23 Jul 2018, Brian Reay wrote:
>
>> In the mid/late 70s, when I was at Uni, I had a vacation job and worked on a
>> project involving the 6100 uP.
>>
>> Initially, I was let loose on a simple singe board dev system (if you can
>> call it that), a simple keyboard, 7 segment display etc, as was common at the
>> time.
>>
>> Eventually, I was trusted to use a 'real computer' - laughable by today's
>> standards but ..... . It was a typical (at the time) 'Pizza Box' 6100 based
>> unit, I'm pretty sure it had toggle switches for data and address set up etc
>> but I used other machines around then and it was 40 years ago, the usual LEDs
>> etc. I/O was teletype etc.- no CRT etc. I'm sure at the time, Intersil were
>> the only make of the 6100 and probably made the Pizza Box.
>>
>> Purely for old times sake, I'd like to try and acquire one- if the price is
>> right.
>>
>> Does anyone know the beast, please?
>>
>
>The 6100's big fame was that it was an IC version of the PDP-8. It rand
>the code, but of course missed out on the front panel and probably some
>other missing bits.
>
clone.
>Someone I knew got a contract to computerize a local vinyl record press,
>and I'm not sure how that started, but he had someone in who was very
>familiar with the PDP-8, though of course the Intersil 6100 had the
>secondary advantage of being CMOS, low current. So they made a board,
>worked the software, with a probably expensive terminal that fitted into a
>calculator case, I can't remember any details beyond that. So they got it
>going, tested it at the plant, and then produced a bunch. This was 1980,
>little did they know the future was in CDs.
one of the best markets for someone with an old, but well maintained
collection to sell into.
Kerr-Mudd,John
Jul 23, 2018, 3:58:00 PM7/23/18
to
On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:04:56 GMT, Bob Eager <news...@eager.cx> wrote:
[]
>
> http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
You program your /doorbell/? wow!
--
Bah, and indeed, Humbug.
[]
>
> http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
You program your /doorbell/? wow!
--
Bah, and indeed, Humbug.
Brian Reay
Jul 23, 2018, 4:40:20 PM7/23/18
to
On 23/07/2018 20:57, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:04:56 GMT, Bob Eager <news...@eager.cx> wrote:
>
> []
>>
>> http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
>
> You program your /doorbell/? wow!
>
Doesn't everyone? ;-)
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:04:56 GMT, Bob Eager <news...@eager.cx> wrote:
>
> []
>>
>> http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
>
> You program your /doorbell/? wow!
>
--
Suspect someone is claiming a benefit under false pretences? Incapacity
Benefit or Personal Independence Payment when they don't need it? They
are depriving those in real need!
https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
Bob Eager
Jul 23, 2018, 4:43:44 PM7/23/18
to
On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 19:57:59 +0000, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:04:56 GMT, Bob Eager <news...@eager.cx> wrote:
>
> []
>>
>> http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
>
> You program your /doorbell/? wow!
Fairly simple. The bell push pulls an input on an Arduino. That sends a
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:04:56 GMT, Bob Eager <news...@eager.cx> wrote:
>
> []
>>
>> http://www.bobeager.uk/projects.html#sbc6120
>
> You program your /doorbell/? wow!
signal via USB to a daemon running in an Asterisk box.
The daemon queues a call to all extensions in the house (ten VoIP phones)
with a special urgent sounding cadence.
Brian Reay
Jul 23, 2018, 4:45:49 PM7/23/18
to
Interesting but, as I was looking for 'nostalgia', I'm hoping to
discover one of the old machines.
(I'd really like a Data General Nova (one of the machines we had at Uni)
but, as understanding as my wife is, I think that may be pushing my
luck. )
Michael Black
Jul 23, 2018, 11:42:47 PM7/23/18
to
On Mon, 23 Jul 2018, Brian Reay wrote:
> On 23/07/2018 17:30, David Jones wrote:
>> Check this out. It's a new implementation of the a single board computer
>> based on the 6120.
>>
>> David
>>
>>
>> https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-edition:start
>>
>
> Thank you.
>
> Interesting but, as I was looking for 'nostalgia', I'm hoping to discover one
> of the old machines.
>
> (I'd really like a Data General Nova (one of the machines we had at Uni)
> but, as understanding as my wife is, I think that may be pushing my luck. )
>
Do a search on "intersil 6100 kit".
>> Check this out. It's a new implementation of the a single board computer
>> based on the 6120.
>>
>> David
>>
>>
>> https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-edition:start
>>
>
> Thank you.
>
> Interesting but, as I was looking for 'nostalgia', I'm hoping to discover one
> of the old machines.
>
> (I'd really like a Data General Nova (one of the machines we had at Uni)
> but, as understanding as my wife is, I think that may be pushing my luck. )
>
It shows that Intersil did offer a 6100 board, but a glance shows no front
panel. I think it was called a "6960 sampler".
But also, there was a "PCM-12", from PCM, that offered a complete
computer, I didn't notice if it was a kit or assembled, and it has a front
panel, and that's probably what I remember reading about back then.
Michael
Brian Reay
Jul 24, 2018, 3:30:49 AM7/24/18
to
On 24/07/2018 04:41, Michael Black wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2018, Brian Reay wrote:
>
>> On 23/07/2018 17:30, David Jones wrote:
>>> Check this out. It's a new implementation of the a single board
>>> computer based on the 6120.
>>>
>>> David
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-edition:start
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>> Interesting but, as I was looking for 'nostalgia', I'm hoping to
>> discover one of the old machines.
>>
>> (I'd really like a Data General Nova (one of the machines we had at
>> Uni) but, as understanding as my wife is, I think that may be pushing
>> my luck. )
>>
> Do a search on "intersil 6100 kit".
>
> It shows that Intersil did offer a 6100 board, but a glance shows no
> front panel. I think it was called a "6960 sampler".
There was definitely a single board beast with a 7 segment display,
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2018, Brian Reay wrote:
>
>> On 23/07/2018 17:30, David Jones wrote:
>>> Check this out. It's a new implementation of the a single board
>>> computer based on the 6120.
>>>
>>> David
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-edition:start
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>> Interesting but, as I was looking for 'nostalgia', I'm hoping to
>> discover one of the old machines.
>>
>> (I'd really like a Data General Nova (one of the machines we had at
>> Uni) but, as understanding as my wife is, I think that may be pushing
>> my luck. )
>>
> Do a search on "intersil 6100 kit".
>
> It shows that Intersil did offer a 6100 board, but a glance shows no
> front panel. I think it was called a "6960 sampler".
membrane keyboard etc, I spent many hours on it. (Albeit 40 years ago.)
I assume it was made by Intersil.
>
> But also, there was a "PCM-12", from PCM, that offered a complete
> computer, I didn't notice if it was a kit or assembled, and it has a
> front panel, and that's probably what I remember reading about back then.
(flat rectangular box) but not square in plan view. Cream/White with a
blue front. I doubt it was a kit. Not impossible but it didn't have the
'kit look'.
timcaf...@gmail.com
Jul 25, 2018, 12:55:22 PM7/25/18
to
On Monday, July 23, 2018 at 4:45:49 PM UTC-4, Brian Reay wrote:
> On 23/07/2018 17:30, David Jones wrote:
> > Check this out. It's a new implementation of the a single board computer based on the 6120.
> >
> > David
> >
> >
> > https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-edition:start
> >
>
> Thank you.
>
> Interesting but, as I was looking for 'nostalgia', I'm hoping to
> discover one of the old machines.
>
> (I'd really like a Data General Nova (one of the machines we had at Uni)
> but, as understanding as my wife is, I think that may be pushing my
> luck. )
>
Golly, you might be in luck:
> On 23/07/2018 17:30, David Jones wrote:
> > Check this out. It's a new implementation of the a single board computer based on the 6120.
> >
> > David
> >
> >
> > https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:sbc:sbc6120-rbc-edition:start
> >
>
> Thank you.
>
> Interesting but, as I was looking for 'nostalgia', I'm hoping to
> discover one of the old machines.
>
> (I'd really like a Data General Nova (one of the machines we had at Uni)
> but, as understanding as my wife is, I think that may be pushing my
> luck. )
>
http://www.cpushack.com/2017/11/14/cpu-of-the-day-fairchild-f9445-the-microflame-flames-out/
Strobe data products seems to be still around:
http://www.strobedata.com/home/introduction.html
http://www.gcc-inc.com/strobe/hawkproduct.html
- Tim
lutwid...@gmail.com
Mar 11, 2019, 5:37:05 PM3/11/19
to
Bob Eager
Mar 11, 2019, 5:40:51 PM3/11/19
to
SBC6120, which is a replica PDP-8.
Brian Reay
Mar 12, 2019, 4:28:00 AM3/12/19
to
is rather long. Not to mention the list of things my wife has for me to
do ;-)
I'd hate to acquire it, have it sit 'collecting dust', while someone
else could have used it.
Daiyu Hurst
Apr 29, 2019, 9:00:27 PM4/29/19
to
On Monday, July 23, 2018 at 11:42:43 AM UTC-4, Michael Black wrote:
> I don't recall a development board or system made by Intersil. I do
> vaguely recall there was a commerical computer that used the 6100, but
> details escape me. This wasn't a big company, so not a familiar name. I
> think there was an article in Kilobaud about it, but maybe it was Byte.
The Harris/COPE 1200 ran a PDP8 instruction set. I don't know if this used the chip, or not, I think they were first sold in 1973. A number of the remote campuses of Indiana University used them as RJE stations. It had a front panel with lights and switches. Our campus had a copy of the PDP8 Family "Introduction to Programming" which I studied for a while, and we had a bound source listing of an earlier version of the PDP8 assembly source for custom RJE code. I've been looking for a photo of one (the COPE 1200) for some years, with no luck.
> I don't recall a development board or system made by Intersil. I do
> vaguely recall there was a commerical computer that used the 6100, but
> details escape me. This wasn't a big company, so not a familiar name. I
> think there was an article in Kilobaud about it, but maybe it was Byte.
Thomas Moss
May 7, 2019, 8:00:00 PM5/7/19
to
On Monday, July 23, 2018 at 11:42:43 AM UTC-4, Michael Black wrote:
> I don't recall a development board or system made by Intersil. I do
> vaguely recall there was a commerical computer that used the 6100, but
> details escape me. This wasn't a big company, so not a familiar name.
I
> think there was an article in Kilobaud about it, but maybe it was Byte.
The OSI 560Z Processor Lab, perhaps?
> I don't recall a development board or system made by Intersil. I do
> vaguely recall there was a commerical computer that used the 6100, but
> details escape me. This wasn't a big company, so not a familiar name.
I
> think there was an article in Kilobaud about it, but maybe it was Byte.
http://www.osiweb.org/manuals/OSI560Z.pdf
mo...@sdf.lonestar.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.lonestar.org
Al Kossow
May 7, 2019, 9:46:16 PM5/7/19
to
On 7/23/18 8:41 AM, Michael Black wrote:
> I don't recall a development board or system made by Intersil.
The Intercept, and Intercept Jr.
> I don't recall a development board or system made by Intersil.
http://bitsavers.org/components/intersil/InterceptHW.pdf
PCM made the PCM-12
http://bitsavers.org/pdf/pcm
which was similar
Al Kossow
May 7, 2019, 9:48:04 PM5/7/19
to
0 new messages